Valve actuating mechanism



aft. 24, 1950 c. T. WALTER 2,527,343

VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Cflarles 2. Walter INVENTOR 91" BY ATTORNEY i c. '1'. WALTER VALVEACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets$heet 2 marzes'z." M/Zdzez' ATTORNEY 1950 c. T. WALTER VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 12, 1941 lNVENTOR ATTORNEY UCL 24,1950 Q WALTER 2,527,341

VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Original Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 24, 1950 VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Charles T.Walter, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Swift & Company, a corporation of IllinoisOriginal application June 12, 1941, Serial N0. 397,690. Divided and thisapplication July 26, 1944,.Serial N0. 546,607

This invention relates to a valve operating apparatus and moreparticularly to a valve operating apparatus for use in conjunction witha container filling machine.

Toshow an application of this invention, the valve operating apparatusis described in cooperation with a fillingniachine such as is describedand claimedin mycopending application for a filling machine bearingSerial No. 397,690, filed June 12, 1941, now Patent N6.'2,376,838, whichfilling machine has been provided for use in extruding plastic orsemi-solid materials into' containers and has;particulanapplication foruse in the handling of productssuch as ground cheese, ground' meat andthe; like.

The" machine shown; in the above mentioned copendi'ng'applicationlincludes a metering cylinder adapted to have a plastic orsemi-solid material introducedthereinto under pressures and a meteringpiston reciprocab'ly' mounted in the cylinder to displace materialtherefrom. The

metering cylinder is preferably of the double act ing type and theadmission of material into and the discharge of "material from themetering cylinder is controlled by a suitable valve such as a four-wayvalve. A booster cylinder containing a booster piston connected to themetering piston is provided to forcibly reciprocate the metering pistonin the metering cylinder to displace a predeterminedquantity of materialtherefrom on each stroke of the piston, the metering piston forcingmaterial out of one end of the metering cylinder while the means, forintroducing material under pressure into the other end of the meteringcylinder, is refilling the bore of the metering cylinder on the trailingside of the metering piston; A suitable valve, such as a fourway falve,controls the admission and exhaust of operating fluid to the boostercylinder and this valve is interconnected with the valve of the meteringcylinder so that the action of the pistons in the two cylinders issynchronized. The booster piston is preferably operated by air underpres-- sure because air lends itself to speedy operation, although anypressure fluid may be utilized.

In order to speed up operation of the apparatus 1 the control valves ofthe metering and booster cylinders are actuated by a power cylinder,which in turn is controlled by another valve, such as a four-way valve,operable automatically upon the positioning of an empty container in thefilling position. s

The present invention is concerned with the valve mechanismfor'co'ntrolling the operationof the filling cycle of the machine. a

6 Claims. (01. 74-520) It is, therefore, the principal object of thisinvention to provide a container filling apparatus which operatesautomatically upon the positioning of an empty container in fillingposition.

Another object'of the invention is to provide a container fillingapparatus arranged and constructed so that it is easy to operate andwhich requires only a minimum of effort onthe part of the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a semi-automaticvalve for controlling the operation of the container filling apparatusand the like;

A further object of the invention'is to provide a novel actuatingmechanism for said automatic valve.

A- still further object of the invention is to provide a valveconstruction in which the pressureacting upon the core thereof isbalanced.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefurther description taken from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of oneforrn of a filling apparatusshowing an application of this invention in whichthe power cylinder forcontrolling the valves of the metering cylinder and. booster cylinder isoperated semi-automatically and incidental to the positioning of'anempty container upon the filling mandrel;

Figure 2 is a side elevationalview, partly in section, of thesemi-automatic valve employed to control the operation of the powercylinder;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the valve shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is-a sectional view through the valve taken on line 4'4 ofFigure 2;

Figurefi is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2'; I

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view particularly illustratingthe arrangement of the plication for a filling machine and this firstfiled application may be referred to for a description of the generalconstruction and operation of the filling machine itself. The presentinvention is concerned with the valve operating means for renderingautomatic, the operation of such a filling machine or the like.

The container filling apparatus of my prior application is hereillustrated in a form showing it to be substantially automatic andFigure 1 constitutes a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus. Inthis form of the machine a metering cylinder 24 and a four-way valve 3|are shown and the booster cylinder I6 and four-way valve 55 forcontrolling the admission of a pressure fluid from conduit 66 into andthe exhaust of the fluid into conduit 69 from the booster cylinder. Aconnecting rod 51 connects the metering piston 55 with a booster piston60. A power cylinder 80 contains a power piston 81 which is connected bymeans of links 93 and 95 to the valves 3| and 95 respectively in orderto simultaneously actuate said valves. A four-way valve I20 is providedfor controlling the admission and exhaust of air from the power cylinder80. A device I I introduces plastic or semi-solid material underpressure into metering cylinder 24, through valve 3| and passageways 32and 33.

In order to render the container-filling apparatus semi-automatic in itsoperation, an upright prod I2I is positioned with the upper end I22thereof disposed adjacent one side of a filling mandrel 52 so that therim of a container X will engage said end assaid container is mountedupon the mandrel for filling. As will be apparent from Fig. 1, a suddenor rapid movement cf the container X downwardly'upon the filling mandrel.52 will impart a like movement to'the rod I2 I. Such downward movementof the rod I2I is utilized to actuate the power cylinder control valveI'for admitting and exhausting air from the power cylinder 80, as willbe explained hereinafter. The lower end I23 of the rod I2I carries asaddle I24 (Fig. 2) adapted to engage a part of the mechanism of thevalve I20 to effect actuation thereof.

block being secured to. ,said body by suitable bolts 130. The plate I29is'further secured to the block I28 by relatively short bolts I3I. Apair ofarms 132, one disposed upon each side of the body I25, ispivotally connected to said body by a pin I33. The opposite ends of saidarms are connected together by a generally U-shaped plate I34 arrangedso that its legs I35 and I35 straddle the body 125; as best shown inFig. 4.

' A rigid frame I25 comprising a pair of bars I336 is pivotally'mountedupon the pin I33 exteriorly of the arms I32,-as is best shown in Fig. 3.The bars 136 are rigidly vconnected together intermediate their ends bya cross brace I3Iwhich may be secured in place by welding, or otherwise.The ends of the bars I36 remote from. the pivot pin I 33 carry a pin I38held in place by cotter pins I39. A sleeve I40 surrounds the pin I38 andserves as--.a spacer; for the free ends of the bars I36. The sleeve I40is adapted to be engaged by relative to each other.

4 the saddle I24 carried by the lower end of the rod I2I, as indicatedin Fig. 2. A second plate I M is arranged in spaced relation to theplate I29 and is secured to the body I25 by means of a bolt I42.

A pair of toggle members I43 and I44, respectively, is disposed betweenthe arms I32 and the rigid frame I25 Each of said toggle memberscomprises a pair of links I43 and I44 respec tively, one of which linksis pivotally connected to the arms I32 at I45 and the other of which ispivotally connected to the frame I25 at I46. The respective links of thetoggle members I43 and I44 are pivotally connected together at I43 andI44". The links connected to the arms I32 include a longitudinalextension I41 adapted to engage with a pin I48 carried by the other ofsaid links to maintain said links in a substantially straight line sothat a thrust force can be transmitted therethrough. The upper links ofthe toggle members I43 andv I44 are connected by a transverse pin I49disposed between spaced stops or abutments I50 and I5! carried by theplates I29 and I 4|, respectively. The stops I50 and I5I may take theform of bolts threadedly mounted in said plates to provide foradjustment thereof Lock nuts I50 and I5I serve to maintain the stops-I50 and I5I in the desired position of adjustment. One end of the -.th erod.I2I and to engage the transverse pin I49 with stop; 1.50meffectstraightening of the toggle members I43 and I44.

lv-alve-blockgenerally indicated at I55. The valve .block vI is providedwith a longitudina-lbore I55 adapted to receive one end of a valve 00ml5]. .The opposite end of saidvalve core is suitably supported in abearing block I58. The valve block I55 and bearing block I58 may bewelded or otherwise secured to the body I25. The valve .b1ockI55isfurther provided with main ports I59 and I60 extending vertically andintersecting the bore I56 as best shown in Fig. 6. The valve block .155is further provided with main ports IGI and I62 which extendhorizontally of said block and .also intersect the bore I56.

An inlet pipe I63 for air under pressure is a connected to, the valveblock I55 directly above the port I59 and an exhaust pipe I64 is con.-

nected to said block directly below the port I60, said exhaust pipeextending through a suitable opening I 6.5 in the body I25 and openingtothe atmosphere.

A pipe I66 is connected to the valve block I55 at one side of the port.I6I and communicates with one end of the power cylinder 80. ,A secondpipe I6? is connected to the .valve block I55 adjacent the port I62 andcommunicates with the opposite end of said power of operation of thevalvecore I51, said valve core and valve block I55 are provided with aseries of balancing-ports, which will now be described.

In the course of manufacture of the valve block I55, a relatively smallpassageway I is angularl drilled in the side of said block so that itcommunicates with the main inlet port I59. A pair of spaced verticalports HI and I12 are drilled in the block I55 and intersect the valvebore I56 so that ports I1I and I12 are formed in said block below saidbore. A horizontal passageway I13 communicates with the port HI and 'asecond horizontal passageway I14 communicates with port I12 Alongitudinal passageway I15 connects the passageways I13 and I14 and avertical passageway I16 disposed upon one side of the bore I56 connectsthe passageways I16 and I15. The outer end of each of the passagewaysI10, I13, I14, I15 and I16 is plugged so as to prevent the escape of airunder pressure from the valve block I55. The upper end of each of theports III and I12, on the other hand, is left open so that these portsare always open to the atmosphere.

The valve core I51 has additional portions thereof cut away to provide aset of balancing except that the' pressure on' the port 'I69 will now bebalanced by pressure acting upon the:

, ports I11 and I19 and atmospheric pressure actports I11 and I18(Fig.10) spaced longitudinally from the main ports I68 and I69, and asecond set of balancing ports I19 and I86 0n the other side of the portsI68 and I69. The ports I11 and I18 are separated by a diametrical weband are so located along the valve core I51 that they are in alignmentwith the ports I1! and I'II m' The ports I19 and I88 are also separatedby a diametrical web and are located so that they are in alignment withthe ports I12 and I12? It will be noted that the web separating the mainports I68 and IE9 is disposed in the same plane as the webs separatingthe balancing ports I11- I18 and I19-'I80, and it will be understoodthat the ports of the valve core are so designed that the sum of'theprojected areas of the webs of the balancing ports is equal to that ofthe web of the main ports. I

It will be clear from the foregoing that when the valve core I51 is intheposition shown in full lines in Fig. 6, air under pressure can enterthe power cylinder 80 through the supply pipe I53, ports I59, I68, I6Iand pipe I66; the web portion of the core between the ports I58 and I69assuming an angle of repose of about 45. Thus, the air pressureeffective upon the port I68 resolves itself into components exertingdownward and lateral thrust on the'valve core I51. At the same time,these components are balanced by equal and opposite components effectiveupon the balancing ports I18 and I80 on the opposite side of the valvecore I51; the air being admitted to act upon the port I18 through thepassageways I10, I16, I13 and port Ill and to act upon the port I80through the passageways I10, I16, I15, I14 and port I12 In themeantime,atmospheric pressure acting upon the main port I69 through exhaust pipeI64 and port I60 is balanced by atmospheric pressure acting upon thebalancing ports I11 and I19 through the tive pressure on the valve corewill be balanced in a manner similar to that previously described,

( serve as abutments for the pin I88, as will be A hub member I85 isrotatably mounted upon: the valve core 51 adjacent the bearing block158..

A- lobe Ififiprojects radially from the hub I85 and carriespins I81 andI88, projecting from: 7

the opposite sides thereof. One end of a pendulum or operating arm I89is rigidly secured to the lobe I86 and the opposite end of said armcarries a weight I90.

A collar I9I is non-rotatably secured to the core I51 between "the hubI85 and the valve block I55. An arcuate recess or slot I 92 formed in aside of said collar is adapted to receive the pin I88. The arcuaterecess I92 terminates in substantially radial end Walls I93 and I94which described more fully hereinafter. The pendulum arm I89, while itis free to'rotate on the'valve core I51, has its angle of movementlimited by a stop means I95 located on opwhich acts a a cushion,Brackets I95 are sesaid rod to m'ove'downwardly. The container ispreferablymoved downward quickly so as to impart a sudden movement tothe rod I2 I.- In View of the fact that the saddle I24 carried by thelower 'end of the rod I2I is engaged with the sleeve I40, it will imparta corresponding sudden downward movement to the free end of the rigidframe I25 against the action of spring I52, thereby causing said frameto pivot about the'pin I33. The links ofthe toggle members I43 and I 44,being in alignment, transmit thrust from the frame I 25 to the arms I32to cause said arms to similarly pivot about the pin I33. Upon continueddownward movement of the rod I2I,the transverse'pin I49 will engage thestop I5I and pivot the upper of the toggle links aboutthe pin I46, thusefiecting a break in the toggle members. During the downward movement ofthe rod I2 I, and prior to the breaking of the toggle members I 43 andI44, the striker I99 associated with the leg I35 will, of course, moveupwardly and engage the pin I81 to impart an impulse to the pendulum armI 89 sufiicient to overcome the-inertia of the weight I and cause saidarm to flop over through a vertical plane passing through the axisofrotation so that it comes to rest in the position indicated indotand-dash lines in Fig. I. The impulse resulting in the aforedescribedactuation of the pendulum arm I89 is produced, as stated, prior tobreaking of the toggle members I43--I44 so that the rigid frame I25 canthereafter pivot downwardly independent of the arms 132 against theresistance offered by the Spring I52. At the same time, furtherupwardmovement of the striker I99 would be limited by the engagement ofthe edge 200 of the U-shaped member I34 with the lower side of the bodyI25.

As will be noted from Fig. 4, the pendulum arm I89 with its weight I90moves through a total angle of about 180. The valve core I51, however,,need only be moved through an angle of approximately 90 to shift themain ports I68 and I69'of said valve core from one operative position tothe other. -Hence, during about the first half of the travel of thependulum arm I89 the pin I88 traverses the slot I92 and imparts norotation to the valve core I51, but, assaid arm reaches approximatelyits vertical position, said pin strikes against the abutment surfaceI94of said slot and causes said valve core to thereafter rotatetherewith through the remainder of its movement. Thus, a lost-motionconnection is provided between the pendulum arm I 89 and the valve coreI51. By the time that the pin I88 engages the abutment surface I94, thependulum .arm I89 is traveling at a substantial velocity so that saidpinstrikes said abutment surface with a hammer-likev effect and readilyovercomes the inertia and any static friction that may be opposing freerotation of the valve core I51 in the valve block I55. I

The pendulum arm I89 will now remain in the position shown indot-and-dash lines in Fig. 4 until the container has been filled andremoved from the mandrel 52. The removal of the container, or thegradual elevation of the container relative to the mandrel during thefilling operationrelieves the downward force acting upon the rod I 2|.As thisforce is released, the spring I52 pulls upwardly on the frame I25causing it to pivot relatively :to the pin I33. This relative movementcarries the transverse pin I49 upward- 1y into engagement with the endof the stop I 50 so thatthe toggle members become straightened, with theextension -I41 engaging the pin I48. Meanwhile, a second striker ,20l(Fig. 4) at the upper extremity of the le I35 assumes a position a shortdistance below the pin I81 of. the pendulum or operating arm I89prepartory to engaging said pin to cause said arm to swing back to itsoriginal position and effect a second filling operation upon the nextsudden depression of the rod I2I.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the metering cylinder 24and the booster cylinder I6 of the machine here shown operate in'thesame manner described in connection with metering cylinder 24-and thebooster cylinder I6 of the ma- The automatic arrangement has the addedadvantage that the metering cylinder normallycannot be operated unless acontainer is in filling position.

It. contemplated that numerous variations andchangesmay be'made. in thestructure of the apparatus disclosed herein without departing from theprinciples of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve operating mechanism comprising: a body; a rigid framepivotally mounted upon said body; a pair of arms pivotally mountedrelative to said frame; toggle members interconnecting said frame andarms, each of said toggle members comprising a pair of links pivotallyconnected together; means normally maintaining the links of each togglemember in alignment so that a thrust force may be transmittedtherethrough from said frame to said arms; striker means carried by saidarms and adapted to engage a movable member upon a given downwardmovement of the free end of said rigid frame; and means for breakingsaid toggle members upon a predetermined pivotal movement of said rigidframe relative to said body.

2. A valve actuating mechanism carried on a relatively fixed supportcomprising: a body; a rigid frame pivotally mounted upon said body; apair of arms pivotall mounted relative to said body; toggle membersinterconnecting said frame and arms, each of said toggle memberscomprising apair of links pivotally connected together; means normallymaintaining the links of each toggle member in alignment so that athrust force may be transmitted therethrough from said frame to saidarms; striker means carried by said arms and arranged to engage a valveoperating arm upon a given downward movement of the free end of saidrigid frame; means for breaking said toggle members upon a predeterminedpivotal movement of the fre end of said rigid frame relative to saidbody; and means interconnecting said support and said rigid framenormally tending to return the frame, arms, and toggle members to theirinitial position.

3. A valve actuating mechanism comprising: a body; a rigid frame; a pairof arms; means supporting said frame and arms for pivotal movementrelative to each other and to said body; toggle members interconnectingsaid frame and arms, each of said toggle members comprising a pairoflinks pivotally connected together; means normally maintaining the linksof each toggle member in alignment so that a thrust force may betransmitted therethrough from said frame to said arms; striker meanscarried by said arms and adapted to engage a movable valve actuatingmember upon downward movement of the free end of said rigid frame; meansfor breaking said toggle members upon a predetermined downward movementof the free end of said-rigid frame; and spring means normally tendingto return said frame and toggle members to their initial position.

4. A valve mechanism comprising: a body; a rigid frame pivotally mountedupon said body; a pair of arms pivotally mounted relative to said frame;toggle members interconnecting said frame and arms, each of said togglemembers comprising a pair of links pivotally connected together; meansnormally maintaining th links of each toggle member in alignment so thata thrust force may be transmitted therethrough from said rigid frame tosaid arms; astriker means carried by said pivotally mounted arms andarranged to engage a movable valve operating arm upon a given downwardmovement of the free end of said pivotally mounted rigid frame; andmeans carried by said body for breaking said toggle members upon apredetermined pivotal movement of said rigid frame relative to saidbody.

5. A valve mechanism comprising: a body; a rigid frame; a pair of arms;means supporting said frame and arms for pivotal movement relative toeach other and to said body; toggle members interconnecting said frameand arms, each of said toggle members comprising a pair of linkspivotally connected together; means normally maintaining said links inalignment so that a thrust force may be transmitted therethrough fromsaid frame to said arms; a pair of spaced stops carried by said bodymember; means between said stops fixed to one of the links of saidtoggle members and being adapted to engage with one of said stops uponpivotal movement of said frame relative to said body to effect breakingof said toggle members and to engage with the other of said stops uponreturn movement of said frame to effect alignment of said toggle links;striker means carried by said arms and arranged to engage a movableValve operating arm prior to breaking of said toggle members to impartan impulse to said operating arm and means connected with said framenormally tending to return the same to its initial position, 7

6. A valve-operating mechanism comprising: a body; a rigid elementpivotally mounted upon said body; an arm means pivotally mountedrelative to said rigid element; toggle means interconnecting said rigidelement and said arm means, said toggle members being pivotallyconnected together; means normall maintaining the links of said togglemembers in alignment so that a given downward movement of the free endof said rigid element; and means for breaking said toggle members upon apredetermined pivotal movement of said rigid element relative to saidbody. CHARLES T. WALTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 350,126 Frost Oct. 5, 1886353,219 Haydn Nov. 23, 1886 387,008 Perry July 31, 1888 665,887 EmeryJan, 15, 1901 927,796 Hawkins July 13, 1909 1,137,517 Nelson Apr. 27,1915 1,322,333 Noonan Nov. 18, 1919 1,574,604 Chamberlain Feb. 23, 19262,004,194 De Lacy-Mulhall June 11, 1935 2,053,886 Williams Sept. 8, 19362,229,933 Parker Jan. 28, 1941 2,233,934 Backho-use Mar. 4, 19412,280,246 McCullough Apr. 20, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date308,643 Italy June 10, 1933

